My amazing 30th - Great Ocean Road road trip!

Lorne, Victoria

It all started on the day before my birthday, Russ met me in the city for a drink and and took me to a bar where unknown to me, people had turned up to surprise me! I walked in and saw just about everyone I know here! It was so great of Russ to organise everyone to get there before I arrived.

The next morning, after opening cards and my wonderful gifts, we set off on the hour and half trip to the start of the Great Ocean Road, an absolutely stunning coastal road which is a favourite of backpackers and tourists, due to the stunning scenery and little towns to stay along the way. The Road was actually built by soldiers returning from war, who only had pick axes! It took 14 years to complete.

We got out of the city and through a place called Geelong, and then hit the GOR at Torquay, a surfer town- the home of Rip Curl and other famous surfing brands. We got out of the car and took a couple of pics of the beach. The road had not yet offically started so we got back in car and made our way through a wooded windy road and drove through Anglesea, the next main town. We continued, at this point still slightly inland and then hit the offical start of the Great Ocean Road - which is marked by a memorial arch (you will see in our pics).

The weather was great and we stopped off at various view points on the road to look at the scenery and for Russ to go mad with his new camera. We arrived at a lovely town called Lorne, and after walking through forest to a waterfall, Russ surprised me with a picnic on the beach. We then checked into an apartment over looking the ocean, and opened a bottle of bubbly, and were joined by parrots and parakeets!

A beautiful fresh seafood dinner on the waters edge finshed off a great day.

The next day we drove further along the Great Ocean Road to the next town called Apollo bay. Russ had booked us into a little spa cabin right near the beach complete with a log burner. We went to a pub as it advertised live music that night, and when I sat down Russ said 'Look behind you' and Carl and Lucy were right behind me! It was such a surprise as I had no idea they had hired a car and drove down without me knowing.

The next day we drove towards Port Campbell to the 12 Apostles - which are natural rock formations in the Ocean - they are more impressive than it sounds, I promise! Russ had bought me a helicopter ride over them, which was incredible. A favourite thing with tourists is to watch the sunset over them but we waited and waited but the cloud cover was just too much.

We went our seperate ways on the last day, so we said goodbye to Carl and Lucy and headed back to the city. We went to the lighthouse that was featured in the TV programme 'Round the Twist' (80's babies among you will remember it fondly!)

Highlights of the trip? EVERYTHING! Oh and the dog strapped to the back of a motorcycle wearing sunglasses. You gotta love the Great Ocean Road!